1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play takes place between 1981 and 1984 and focuses on the rise of the HIV/AIDs crisis. It is told through the eyes of Ned Weeks, a writer and gay activist who is the founder of an HIV group. The play starts out with an outbreak of a cancer that is killing members of the gay community at a very fast rate. The play is mainly about Ned Weeks trying to bring attention to this outbreak and get the finances needed to research it. Other main characters include Dr. Emma Brookner, who has treated numerous gay patients that have died from the disease. She helps Ned with his cause. Weeks’s lover New York Times Reporter Felix Turner and the leader of the HIV group Bruce Niles are other key characters as well.
2. What is the intrusion? I feel the intrusion of the play is when Ned’s friend when Craig’s friend collapses dies in the early part of the play. This alerts Ned that there is a problem and he starts working with Dr. Brookner to do something about it.
3. What is the unique factor? The unique factor is this certain time, the 1980s, when Ned and his friends decide to start an HIV awareness group. Also the day Ned goes to Dr. Emma Brookner is the same time when the AIDS epidemic is happening is another unique factor.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play? Will the HIV group get the attention and funding that they deserve? What will Ned do now that he is out of the group and Felix has died?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it. One kind of exposition is that all the characters as well as the people of New York know an epidemic is going on. Another kind of exposition, where one character knows something but the other doesn’t, is when Felix and Ned had met a long time ago, but only Ned actually knows.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be. In my opinion, the most theatrical moment of the play is when Dr. Emma Brookner loses her patience and starts throwing the papers. Throughout the play, Dr. Brookner is shown to be logical and calm and her final impatience signifies the serious of the situation and all the frustration everyone feels that the government isn’t doing anything. I could empathize with her frustration as with all the men in the HIV/AIDS group on how this epidemic is being purposefully being overlooked.
7. List some of the themes of the play. Themes of the play include love, death, and discrimination.
8. What does Ned want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants? Ned wants gay people to be treated well and respected in society(against society). This obviously isn’t happening at the current moment. An AIDS epidemic is getting larger and more dangerous and no one is choosing to acknowledge what is going on or help prevent the epidemic. He fights continuously throughout the play but keeps getting rejected by homophobic people. He has to deal with the mayor, the mayor’s assistant, and to some extent even his own brother to be accepted in society(other individuals). No one seem to be interested in giving the proper funding to his HIV/AIDS group. His obstacle against fate is that he wants the idea to be gay to be considered natural and not for him to be considered sick(against fate). His obstacle against himself is that he wants to think of himself positively and love himself which he obviously struggles which might be the cause of his short temper.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play. One of the major images in the play are the spots the infected gay men get as a result of the disease. They are symbolic of death as well as society’s treatment of them. They show how society really doesn’t care that they are all dying. Another image could be the hospital itself. They are symbolic of hope usually but in this case mainly death, as you see so many gay people dying here.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play. Family has a different meaning in this play. It seems the gay men in this play are more of a family with each other than they are with their own family. This is due to the fact that their families most likely had trouble accepting their sexuality. You can see it with Ned’s brother himself. It gave me the idea of how family isn't always blood necessarily.
The play takes place between 1981 and 1984 and focuses on the rise of the HIV/AIDs crisis. It is told through the eyes of Ned Weeks, a writer and gay activist who is the founder of an HIV group. The play starts out with an outbreak of a cancer that is killing members of the gay community at a very fast rate. The play is mainly about Ned Weeks trying to bring attention to this outbreak and get the finances needed to research it. Other main characters include Dr. Emma Brookner, who has treated numerous gay patients that have died from the disease. She helps Ned with his cause. Weeks’s lover New York Times Reporter Felix Turner and the leader of the HIV group Bruce Niles are other key characters as well.
2. What is the intrusion?
I feel the intrusion of the play is when Ned’s friend when Craig’s friend collapses dies in the early part of the play. This alerts Ned that there is a problem and he starts working with Dr. Brookner to do something about it.
3. What is the unique factor?
The unique factor is this certain time, the 1980s, when Ned and his friends decide to start an HIV awareness group. Also the day Ned goes to Dr. Emma Brookner is the same time when the AIDS epidemic is happening is another unique factor.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will the HIV group get the attention and funding that they deserve?
What will Ned do now that he is out of the group and Felix has died?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
One kind of exposition is that all the characters as well as the people of New York know an epidemic is going on. Another kind of exposition, where one character knows something but the other doesn’t, is when Felix and Ned had met a long time ago, but only Ned actually knows.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
In my opinion, the most theatrical moment of the play is when Dr. Emma Brookner loses her patience and starts throwing the papers. Throughout the play, Dr. Brookner is shown to be logical and calm and her final impatience signifies the serious of the situation and all the frustration everyone feels that the government isn’t doing anything. I could empathize with her frustration as with all the men in the HIV/AIDS group on how this epidemic is being purposefully being overlooked.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Themes of the play include love, death, and discrimination.
8. What does Ned want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
Ned wants gay people to be treated well and respected in society(against society). This obviously isn’t happening at the current moment. An AIDS epidemic is getting larger and more dangerous and no one is choosing to acknowledge what is going on or help prevent the epidemic. He fights continuously throughout the play but keeps getting rejected by homophobic people. He has to deal with the mayor, the mayor’s assistant, and to some extent even his own brother to be accepted in society(other individuals). No one seem to be interested in giving the proper funding to his HIV/AIDS group. His obstacle against fate is that he wants the idea to be gay to be considered natural and not for him to be considered sick(against fate). His obstacle against himself is that he wants to think of himself positively and love himself which he obviously struggles which might be the cause of his short temper.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
One of the major images in the play are the spots the infected gay men get as a result of the disease. They are symbolic of death as well as society’s treatment of them. They show how society really doesn’t care that they are all dying. Another image could be the hospital itself. They are symbolic of hope usually but in this case mainly death, as you see so many gay people dying here.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Family has a different meaning in this play. It seems the gay men in this play are more of a family with each other than they are with their own family. This is due to the fact that their families most likely had trouble accepting their sexuality. You can see it with Ned’s brother himself. It gave me the idea of how family isn't always blood necessarily.